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Puget Sound Beach House

On the western shore of Puget Sound lies a modern beach house. The site has a very limited buildable area, as it is wedged between the coast of Puget Sound on the east and sensitive wetlands to the west. The small buildable footprint of the site and the owners’ program dictated a vertical stacking of spaces that gradually move from public to private with each successive level. This concept, coupled with the owners’ desire for a modern beach house feel, similar to those found on the Northeastern seaboard, drove the project’s design. An open plan ensures flowing movement throughout the spaces, while a two-story wall with glass facing the water allows for dramatic views. Each level is organized around a single loaded lineal circulation corridor, which runs parallel to the waterfront and is open to the sweeping views of Puget Sound, Whidbey Island and even the Cascade Mountains. Low-maintenance, durable materials were requested by the clients to withstand the exposure to the coastal environment, which led to a palate of metal siding and concrete block. This also appealed to the owners’ desire for a low-cost, more “industrial” aesthetic. This feeling is translated to the interior as well, with concrete floors, a concrete block fireplace and metal stairs and handrails. The flat-roofed structure allows for a deck at every level, allowing plenty of space, both interior and exterior, from which the owners can take in the views and entertain.